Headwear piece with object holding capability

ABSTRACT

A headwear piece has a crown defining an opening to receive the head of a wearer. The crown has (a) an inside surface having at least a portion for engaging a wearer&#39;s head to maintain the headwear piece operatively situated on a wearer&#39;s head and (b) an exposed external surface. The crown has first and second openings through the external surface of the crown and spaced from each other so that an elongate object can be directed through both of the first and second openings and frictionally maintained in a stored position on the crown with the headwear piece operatively situated on a wearer&#39;s head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to headwear and, more particularly, to aheadwear piece having openings strategically placed thereon toreleasably hold objects as may be separated and used by a wearer.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Many activities are engaged in which require the availability ofsmall objects/accessories. As just one example, golfers utilize tees andscoring pencils repeatedly throughout a golf round. Several options areavailable to golfers to keep these items readily accessible.

[0005] One common practice is to place the tees and/or pencils in auser's pants or shirt pockets. However, pencil and tees have sharpenedpoints which may cause discomfort, or in a worst case, injury, to thegolfer.

[0006] To obviate this problem, many golf equipment suppliers havedevised different systems to keep on hand, and readily accessible, asupply of golf tees and pencils. Golf bags are commonly equipped withexternal receptacles into which individual golf tees and pencils can beplaced. Similarly, both manually operated and powered golf cartscommonly have some structure to store tees and pencils near a score cardfor ready accessibility.

[0007] While the various systems, described above, adequately performthe function for which they are designed, they are inherently lesseffective than a system that would allow a golfer to keep the tees andpencil on his/her person. It is not uncommon for a golfer to walk ten totwenty years from a cart to a golf tee, only to find that he/she has notee available. To avoid this problem, some golfers improvise by placingthe tees in either a tucked position between the upper ear and head, orwedged between part of a headwear piece and the head. The tees andpencils are prone to escaping when stored in this manner. At the sametime, there is some discomfort associated with placement of the tees andpencils against the wearer's head.

[0008] Headwear pieces are often provided with receptacles to holdobjects/accessories. It is known to modify conventional cloth caps/hatsby sewing a strip of flexible material on the external surface thereof.As an example, a rectangular strip of cloth may have its ends secured tothe headwear piece so that it is loosely bunched between the ends todefine a receptacle into which an object/accessory can be pressed andfrictionally maintained.

[0009] Formation of receptacles on the external surfaces of headwearpieces, while addressing a need, has a number of drawbacks. First ofall, the cloth strip, or other addition to the external surface of theheadwear piece, may detract significantly from the appearance thereof.Further, formation of the receptacle(s) may require the handling andseparate installation of one or more relatively small elements, such asthe strips. This may introduce another manufacturing step, representingadded costs, inconvenience, and additional assembly time. Further, thecombined thickness of the materials on the headwear piece and thereceptacle defining structure may increase the overall thicknessrequired to be sewn to the point that stitching operations arecomplicated.

[0010] Ideally, storage of small accessories on headwear is possiblewithout increasing manufacturing complexity or cost to any significantdegree and without appreciably altering the appearance of the headwearpiece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In one form, the invention is directed to a headwear piece havinga crown defining an opening to receive the head of a wearer. The crownhas (a) an inside surface having at least a portion for engaging awearer's head to maintain the headwear piece operatively situated on thewearer's head and (b) an exposed external surface. The crown has firstand second openings through the external surface of the crown and spacedfrom each other so that an elongate object can be directed through bothof the first and second openings and frictionally maintained in a storedposition on the crown with the headwear piece operatively situated on awearer's head.

[0012] In one form, the first and second openings extend fully throughthe crown from the inside surface to the external surface.

[0013] In one form, the first opening is an elongate slit.

[0014] The first opening may be formed by a button hole machine.

[0015] In one form, the first and second openings are each formed as anelongate slit with a length.

[0016] The lengths of the first and second slits may extendsubstantially parallel to each other.

[0017] In one form, the first and second slits are spaced from eachother by a distance not greater than 2 inches.

[0018] In one form, the crown is made from at least one cloth gore andthe first opening is defined in the one cloth gore.

[0019] In one form, the one cloth gore has a fabric layer with a firstsurface that defines a part of the exposed external surface of the crownand the first opening extends through the first surface of the one clothgore.

[0020] The first opening is bounded by an edge. In one form, edgestitching is performed on the crown around the edge.

[0021] The invention further contemplates the above headwear piece incombination with an object directed through both of the first and secondopenings and frictionally maintained in a stored position on the crown.

[0022] The invention is further directed to a headwear piece having acrown defining an opening to receive the head of a wearer and abrim/bill projecting from the crown. The headwear piece has an exposedexternal surface on the crown and extending continuously to thebrim/bill. At least one of the crown and brim/bill has first and secondopenings through the external surface of the headwear piece and spacedfrom each other so that an elongate object can be directed through bothof the first and second openings and frictionally maintained in a storedposition on the headwear piece with the headwear piece operativelysituated on a wearer's head.

[0023] In one form, the brim/bill has a thickness and the first andsecond openings extend fully through the thickness of the brim/bill.

[0024] The first opening may be an elongate slit.

[0025] In one form, the first opening is formed by a button holemachine.

[0026] In one form, the first and second openings are each an elongateslit with a length.

[0027] The lengths of the first and second slits may extendsubstantially parallel to each other.

[0028] In one form, the first and second slits are spaced from eachother by a distance not greater than 2 inches.

[0029] The first opening is bounded by an edge. In one form, edgestitching is performed on the crown around the edge.

[0030] The invention further contemplates the above headwear piece incombination with an elongate object directed through both of the firstand second openings and frictionally maintained in a stored position onthe crown.

[0031] The invention is further directed to a method of storing anobject on a headwear piece having a crown defining an opening to receivethe head of a wearer and a brim/bill projecting away from the crown. Themethod includes the steps of: directing the object through first andsecond spaced openings in the headwear piece so that the object isfrictionally maintained in a stored position on the headwear piece; andplacing the headwear piece on a wearer's head.

[0032] The headwear piece may be placed on the wearer's head eitherbefore or after the object is placed in the stored position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headwear piece having pairedopenings for maintaining an object in a stored position thereon,according to the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the headwear piece in FIG. 1;

[0035]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a sideof the headwear piece in FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing an object/golf teedirected therethrough and maintained in a stored position on theheadwear piece;

[0036]FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevation view of one of the openings shownin FIGS. 1-3;

[0037]FIG. 5 is a view as in FIG. 4 with the opening widened as occurswhen an object is directed therethrough;

[0038]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, plan view of a top portion of theheadwear piece in FIGS. 1 and 2 with paired slits formed thereonaccording to the invention;

[0039]FIG. 7 is a view as in FIG. 4 and showing a button hole machine inschematic form stitching around the edges of the opening in FIGS. 4 and5;

[0040]FIG. 8 is a view as in FIG. 7 with the edges spread apart to widenthe opening, as in FIG. 5;

[0041]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, elevation view of a portion of a headwearpiece with a modified form of opening configuration, according to theinvention, therein;

[0042]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another form of headwear piece,in the form of a visor, and into which the present invention isincorporated;

[0043]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a still further form of headwearpiece having a continuous, peripheral brim, and into which the presentinvention is incorporated; and

[0044]FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the combination of aheadwear piece, according to the present invention, and an object whichis maintained in a stored position thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] In FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of headwear piece, into which thepresent invention is incorporated, is shown at 10. The headwear piece 10consists of a crown 12 and a brim/bill 14 connected to, and projectingangularly away from, the crown 12. The headwear piece 10 isconventionally referred to as a baseball-style cap. The crown 12 extendssubstantially continuously in an inverted cup shape, defining an opening16 to receive the head of a wearer 18. The crown 12 has an internalsurface 20 and an exposed external surface 22. The internal surface 20includes a portion 24, around the entry to the opening 16, that embracesthe wearer's head to maintain the headwear piece operatively situated onthe wearer's head, as shown in FIG. 1. The exposed external surface 22of the crown 12 extends continuously to exposed upwardly facing anddownwardly facing surfaces 30, 32, respectively, on the brim/bill 14.

[0046] The crown 12 is defined by a plurality of cloth gores 34, eachhaving a generally triangular configuration and joined edge-to-edge atsewn seams 36 to produce a closed, cup-shaped receptacle at 38 intowhich the wearer's head can be directed. The top of the crown 12 has abutton 40 attached thereto. The brim/bill 14 is conventionally united tothe crown 12 through a sewing process.

[0047] While the headwear piece 10 is described as being formed fromcloth material, the crown 12 and/or the brim/bill 14 can be made from adifferent material or a combination of cloth and other materials. Solong as certain portions of the headwear piece 10 can function asdescribed below, the nature of the material remains insignificant.

[0048] According to the invention, paired, first and second openings42,44 are formed through the external surface 22 of the crown 12 andpreferably through the full thickness T of the cloth layer 46 definingthe gores 34, as shown in detail in FIGS. 3-5, taken in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2. The openings 42,44 are each in the form of an elongateslit having a length L (FIG. 1) as dictated by the particular objectthat is intended to be directed therethrough. In FIGS. 2 and 3, anexemplary golf tee 48 is shown for the object to be held by the headwearpiece 10. The slits 42,44 may have the same or a different length L. Asjust an example, the length L of each slit 42, 44 may be the same and onthe order of ⅛ to ½, of course depending upon the dimension of theobject to be directed therethrough.

[0049] The openings/slits 42, 44 can actually be made with a moresubstantial length L to accommodate a wide range of object sizes. Forexample, the length L of the slits 42,44 can be made conceivably as longas 2 inches, or greater. While the invention would function, thegripping capability for smaller objects would not be as great.

[0050] The spacing between the slits 42, 44 is typically less than 2inches for the type of objects typically contemplated to be held by theheadwear piece 10 having the style shown.

[0051] According to the invention, the object, in this case the golf tee48, is directed through one slit 44 from the outside in and through theother slit 42 through the inside out. This can be facilitated byslightly bunching the layer 46 between the slits 42,44, as shown in FIG.3. As the object is moved into and through the slits 42, 44, the width Wof the slits 42,44 is increased under a force that is applied toopposite edges 50,52, bounding the slits 42,44 by the object/golf tee48. That is, the object/golf tee 48 produces a wedging action on theedges 50,52 and urges the same oppositely, as indicated by the arrows54,56 to develop a passageway through which the object/golf tee 48 canbe pressed.

[0052] Once the object/golf tee 48 is in the FIG. 3 position, the clothin the layer 46 on opposite sides of the openings 42,44, can be drawn inopposite directions, as indicated by the arrows 58,60, as a result ofwhich the width W of the openings 42,44 constricts to positively,frictionally squeeze/grip the object/golf tee 48. This action occursautomatically as the headwear piece 10 is directed over the wearer'shead and the opening 16 enlarged. However, the object/golf tee 48 couldbe placed into the stored position with the headwear piece 10 alreadyoperatively placed on the wearer's head.

[0053] It should also be understood that the object/golf tee 48 can beinserted without bunching the cloth in the layer 46 as shown in FIG. 3.The object/golf tee 48 can be pressed through the openings 42,44, as bymaneuvering the object/golf tee 48 in a sewing movement through theopenings 42, 44, which is made possible by the stretching of the fabricin the layer 46 and expansion of the width W of the openings 42,44.

[0054] The slits 42,44 are shown in FIGS. 1-3 at one side 62 of theheadwear piece 10 and with the lengths L extending generally in avertical direction. The invention contemplates that other locations andorientations of the openings 42,44 could be used, as virtually anywhere,and in virtually any orientation, on the crown 12. For example, a pencil64 is shown mounted using the invention in a similar manner on the side68 of the headwear piece 10 opposite to the side 62.

[0055] As further shown in FIG. 1, openings 42′,44′ are shown angularlydisposed on a gore 34 at the front region 70 of the crown 12. In FIG. 2,the object/golf tee 48 is shown in phantom frictionally maintained in astored position on the crown 12 by passage through the slits 42′,44′.

[0056] As an alternative location, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, openings42″,44″ can be provided at the top 74 of the crown 12 so that the storedobject passed through the openings 42″,44″ extends beneath the button40.

[0057] As an alternative to the crown location, openings 42′″,44′″ canbe provided in the brim/bill 14. As one preferred location thereon, theslits 42′″,44′″ are located in a central region which has a naturalcurvature which facilitates passage through of an object, in this caseshown as the pencil 64. Generally, the same principal of operation isutilized, however the brim/bill 14 typically has a substantially morerigid construction than that provided by the material defining the crown12.

[0058] To facilitate the formation of the openings 42,44, the openings42,44 can be formed by a conventional button hole machine, shownschematically at 76 in FIGS. 7 and 8. The button hole machine 76 canform the openings 42,44 and edge stitching 78 continuously around theedge portions 50,52 to maintain the integrity thereof and avoid edgefraying.

[0059] The invention also contemplates that other than a straight slitconfiguration can be used for the openings 42,44. In FIG. 9, one of theopenings 84, corresponding in function to the openings 42,44, is showndefined by crossing cuts 86,88. Other structures, such as cutouts, andthe like, with different configurations than shown could be usedconsistent with the invention.

[0060] The invention also contemplates incorporation into other types ofheadwear pieces such as a visor, as shown at 110 in FIG. 10, and aheadwear piece at 120 in FIG. 11, consisting of a cup-shaped crown 122and a brim 124 which extends around the full periphery of the crown 122.The slits 42,44,42′″,44′″ are provided and function in the same manneras previously described.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 12, the invention contemplates the placement ofany object, shown generically at 126 in FIG. 12, through openings 128 ina headwear piece 130, regardless of shape or location, and regardless ofthe type of headwear piece 130, including configurations not shown inthe drawings herein.

[0062] While the invention has been described with particular referenceto the drawings, it should be understood that various modificationscould be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

1. In combination: a) a headwear piece comprising: a crown defining anopening to receive the head of a wearer, a brim/bill projectingangularly away from the crown, the crown comprising i) an inside surfacehaving at least a portion for engaging a wearer's head to maintain theheadwear piece operatively situated on a wearer's head and ii) anexposed external surface, the crown having first and second adjacentopenings through the external surface of the crown at a first locationon the crown and spaced from each other so that an elongate object canbe directed through both of the first and second openings andfrictionally maintained in a stored position on the crown with theheadwear piece operatively situated on a wearer's head, wherein each ofthe first and second openings is an elongate, substantially closed slitthat can be opened and widened to allow direction therethrough of anobject, wherein each of the first and second openings is bounded by anedge and edge stitching is performed on the crown around each of theedges bounding the first and second openings; and b) an object that isdirected through the adjacent openings and maintained in a storedposition on the headwear piece with the headwear piece operativelysituated on a wearer's head solely by frictional forces generatedbetween the crown and object at the first location.
 2. The combinationaccording to claim 1 wherein the first and second openings extend fullythrough the crown from the inside surface to the external surface. 3.(cancelled)
 4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the firstopening is formed by a button hole machine.
 5. (cancelled)
 6. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein the lengths of the first andsecond openings extend substantially parallel to each other.
 7. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein the first and second openingsare spaced from each other by a distance not greater than 2 inches. 8.The combination according to claim 1 wherein the crown comprises atleast one cloth gore and the first opening is defined in the one clothgore.
 9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the one cloth gorehas a fabric layer with a first surface that defines a part of theexposed external surface of the crown and the first opening extendsthrough the first surface of the one cloth gore.
 10. (cancelled)
 11. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein the object comprises anelongate golf accessory directed through both of the first and secondopenings.
 12. In combination: a) a headwear piece comprising: a crowndefining an opening to receive the head of a wearer; and a brim/billprojecting from the crown, the headwear piece having an exposed externalsurface on the crown and extending continuously to the brim/bill, atleast one of the crown and brim/bill having first and second adjacent,expandable openings through the external surface of the headwear pieceand spaced from each other so that an elongate object can be directedthrough both of the first and second openings and frictionallymaintained in a stored position on the headwear piece with the headwearpiece operatively situated on a wearer's head; and b) at least one of agolf tee and a pencil directed through the adjacent openings andfrictionally maintained in a stored position on the headwear piece withthe headwear piece operatively situated on a wearer's head.
 13. Thecombination according to claim 12 wherein the brim/bill has a thicknessand the first and second openings extend fully through the thickness ofthe brim/bill.
 14. The combination according to claim 12 wherein thefirst opening is an elongate slit that is substantially closed with noobject extending through the elongate slit.
 15. The combinationaccording to claim 12 wherein the first opening is formed by a buttonhole machine.
 16. The combination according to claim 12 wherein thefirst and second openings each comprise an elongate slit with a length.17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the lengths of thefirst and second slits extend substantially parallel to each other. 18.The combination according to claim 12 wherein the adjacent, expandableopenings are spaced from each other by a distance not greater than 2inches.
 19. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the firstopening is bounded by an edge and edge stitching is performed on thecrown around the edge.
 20. (cancelled)
 21. A method of storing an objecton a headwear piece having a crown defining an opening to receive thehead of a wearer and a brim/bill projecting away from the crown, themethod comprising the steps of: directing the object through first andsecond spaced adjacent slits at a first location in the headwear pieceand thereby opening each slit from a substantially closed state so thatthe object is maintained in a stored position on the headwear piecesolely by frictional forces generated between the headwear piece andobject at the first location; and placing the headwear piece on awearer's head.
 22. The method of storing an object according to claim 21wherein the headwear piece is placed on the wearer's head before theobject is placed in the stored position.
 23. The method of storing anobject according to claim 21 wherein the headwear piece is placed on thewearer's head after the object is placed in the stored position.
 24. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein the crown has a diameter andthe object comprises an elongate object having a length substantiallyless than the diameter of the crown and directed into each of the firstand second openings and frictionally held by the crown within the firstand second openings.
 25. (cancelled)
 26. The combination according toclaim 1 wherein a part of the object in the stored position is exposeddirectly to the wearer's head.
 27. A headwear piece comprising: a crowndefining an opening to receive the head of a wearer, a brim/billprojecting angularly away from the crown, the crown comprising (a) aninside surface having at least a portion for engaging a wearer's head tomaintain the headwear piece operatively situated on a wearer's head and(b) an exposed external surface, the crown having first and secondadjacent openings through the external surface of the crown and spacedfrom each other so that an elongate object can be directed through bothof the first and second openings and frictionally maintained in a storedposition on the crown with the headwear piece operatively situated on awearer's head, wherein each of the first and second openings is providedin the brim/bill.